Plan B

Giving up never felt so good.

8.27.2006

Girl Talk - Night Ripper

Girl Talk (aka Greg Gillis) is master of the mashup. In his third release, Night Ripper, the amount of samples used is unreal. Thousands of sounds slammed together, combining everything from Smashing Pumpkins to PM Dawn to M/A/R/R/S to Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch. If you can think of a modern classic or popular song from the last 30 years, chances are it finds it's way into one of these tracks. It's almost like "Name That Tune" as one blogger put it when describing the format of these tracks. The bits and pieces fly in and fly out and you have only seconds to recognize them. It may sound like a mess, but it's pieced together with high skill. My take : It's kind of the ultimate party record. -From My Old Kentucky Blog

8.26.2006

Pixies - Surfer Rosa

8.25.2006

Pixies - Come on Pilgrim [EP]

As promised, to kick off Pixies week here on Plan B, here is the first release of the Pixies. Recorded on 600 dollars borrowed from Frank Black's father, this demo is arguably their best work. I am sure many of you have never heard the Pixies. Please, listen to this; I am sure you will enjoy this music as much as I have. Without any doubt they are one of the world's greatest bands.

8.24.2006

The Mountain Goats - Get Lonely

On the Mountain Goats' previous albums, songwriter John Darnielle bluntly sang about broken marriages and broken souls. With 2005's The Sunset Tree, meanwhile, he took on his abusive stepfather using surprising vitriol for a squeaky voiced indie rocker armed with just an acoustic guitar. On Get Lonely, Darnielle seems to have found a certain sense of peace, settling into a series of supple songs that evoke sad-eyed folkies such as Belle & Sebastian ("Half Dead") and Cat Stevens ("Maybe Sprout Wings"). But through the dark clouds, he also exhibits a sly sense of humor, particularly singing to a departed lover in "Woke Up New." It's hard to think of anything funnier or more depressing than the lines, "The first time I made coffee for just myself/ I made too much of it/ But I drank it all/ Just cause you hate it when I let things go to waste."

Modest Mouse- The Lonesome Crowded West

Modest Mouse's The Lonesome Crowded West simply is perfection on a disc. From the opening Teeth Like God's Shoeshine to the mellow catchy Out of Gas, this record is pure bliss. Frontman Isaac Brock's slight lisp might annoy some listeners, but I believe his voice is amazing, along with his great songwriting. One can really feel the emotion he puts into every song, whether it be serious or humorous. If you're a fan of Modest Mouse's latest stuff, or if you want to get into this band, definately pick this one up.

8.20.2006

The Arrogant Sons of Bitches- Built To Fail

As far as I know, this is Jeff Rosenstock's first ever record from any band, and ASOB's first CD. Sounding much different from both Discography and Three Cheers, this record has a more ska-core vibe than their other releases. The first mellow, second hardcore song I Hate Punk Rock reminds me of ASOB's other work while the classic I Pissed In Your Mountain Dew sounds like a classic second wave ska song. Every one of these songs is catchy and interesting, and this is for any fan of ASOB that wants to hear more of their older, rare stuff.

8.17.2006

Slayer - Reign In Blood

THE metal album to rule all metal albums.You can take your sugar-coated Metallica riffs, eat some cocaine mixed with sugar, and go play it on VH1, you can take your gay cowboy drinking songs of Pantera and go sodomize your children with them, they have got nothing on Slayer. My stance on the metal genre is that much of my stance of the pro-choice movement; being "yeah sure, do whatever you want, just fucking leave me alone". The only reason I ever found metal even slightly interesting was the element of speed. And my god, is it ever-present here. This entire album is over in less than 30 minutes. It's one of those albums that you don't even realize that for the past fifteen minutes has been done playing. It's got your skull-fucking dual solos courtesy of Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman that make you go "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!?!?!", kind of like your first... well, if you have no idea what one of the many allusions listed in that last statement could be, this album will most likely be "too loud" for you, thus Wal-Mart is having a sale on knee-pads, you best stock up. It has your badass brain-crunching power chordes that unlike Metallica, never sound redundant. And it has just about the best closer (Postmortem - Raining Blood). If you tend to dislike metal like I do, just listen and work back from there. [Note: this is the reissue, so there are two more additional tracks; just delete them if you wish]. Oh yeah, and Rick Rubin produced this masterpiece.Not for the faint of heart.

8.15.2006

Wolfmother - Wolfmother

If you like thunderous riffs that can be heard from miles away, venture forth no further. It's like a fucking supernova. A mix between Kyuss, the White Stripes, and Sabbath, this can't be that bad of an album to ganja out with (I have yet to confirm this). What I believe is the only album I have purchased new (at retail) this year, and unless Axl finally releases Chinese Democracy by the end of the year, it will stay that way.Turn it up to 11; this shit BITES!!!

8.14.2006

The Get Up Kids - Guilt Show

Light poppy-rock - but less brianless and more put together than the more mainstream pop rockers ie the All American Rejects, rufio, etc. Fairly fast-paced, cute, upbeat, and fun. Much like Saves the Day, the Get Up Kids's sound varies largely from album to album. Originally, I liked Something to Write Home About much better, but I find I like the louder, more exciting, non-emo album better nowadays :). Favorites include: "The One You Want," "Never Be Alone," "Wouldn't Believe it," "How Long is Too Long," and "Sympathy." I feel it's worth giving a listen to :).

Islands - Return to the Sea

Hailing from Montreal, Islands is a 7 piece band founded by former Unicorns front man Nick Diamond and drummer J'aime Tambeur. Following the untimely disbandment of the Unicorns right as they were on the cusp of breaking through, this highly anticipated debut release by Islands entitled Return to the Sea, with its quirky sounds and refreshing, catchy melodies, contains collaborations with members of Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade and Beck.

8.11.2006

Leftöver Crack - Fuck World Trade

"For your listening pleasure, Fuck World Trade!"If you wince upon a glance of the album art, then shy away from download; I'm pretty sure the thunderous roar of sound waves themselves will destroy you instantly upon listen. Even if it dosent destroy you, the nails-on-chalkboard vocals of STZA will certainly grind you up a bit. And the political message, it's terrifyingly true. Generally, with music focused on politics, the political message is regarded higher than the technical execution of the insturments and the band. This is an exception, being not only produced but performed terrifically in addition. As user "Rocksteady" on Amazon states, "it mixes ska, punk, and hardcore metal into a whirling death mobile of awesome." A death mobile of awesome; no better way to put it. This is perhaps the least likely band you will find having any affiliation with Clear Channel or MTV. From the same motherfuckers that sainted the Columbine kids, we are pleased to present the good, the bad, and the Leftöver Crack.

8.10.2006

Sparta - Porcelain

Alternative rock/post hardcore. Started by a member of At the Drive-In (who have two albums posted on Plan B, if you're interested in checking them out). Like nothing that's ever been posted here, in my opinion. Yeah, there's screams, no it's not "screamo", but it is filled with emotion and an underlying intensity. Favorite tracks: "Guns of Memorial Park", "Hiss the Villain", "While Oceana Sleeps"*** particularly poignant, "Breaking the Broken", and "Splinters." Give it a listen, if you're not too caught up on ska to open your ears :).

8.09.2006

The Mountain Goats - We Shall All Be Healed

We Shall All Be Healed is a 2004 album from John Darnielle's main project, The Mountain Goats. The album focuses on semi-fictional accounts of Darnielle's years as a teenager, particularly his friends' and acquaintances' experiences as methamphetamine addicts. As written on The Mountain Goats' official website: "All of the songs on [We Shall All Be Healed] are based on people John used to know. Most of them are probably dead or in jail by now." Like "Tallahassee", but unlike the rest of Darnielle's repertoire up to its release, "We Shall All Be Healed" was recorded with a full band in a recording studio (as opposed a boom box with, at most, one or two backup vocalists or a bassist), and "Palmcorder Yajna" (the primary single), when played in concert, is often played with the backing of members of one or more of the opening acts on tour with The Mountain Goats.

8.07.2006

Kidney Stone- Rosemont Hits Factory

Kidney Stone offers up a hybrid of ska, pop-punk, and a little dub in this great EP. The band has a lot to say and not enough songs to do it with, what with every song seemingly having a message. For instance, in Stop Smoking, "A little weed's cool. But now it's just abuse and I say: Start living, stop smoking."This little known band has a handful of good songs here. Pick it up.

The Arrogant Sons of Bitches- Discography

No, this isn't this bands actual discography. This record spans three albums and eight years of ASOB. It features favorites such as Sorry, We Steal, So Lets Go Nowhere, Kill the President, and RADIO SINGLE, as well as two brand new, never before released tracks. The production definately isn't the greatest, but it's listenable nonetheless. If you ask me, this is definately a must for anyone who liked Three Cheers for Dissapointment. Depending on who you ask, ASOB is gone forever, but this is a great collection of what this band did: Kick ass.

8.04.2006

Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister

WAIT. Before you dismiss this as a depressing emo CD, please ignore the album art (and somewhat the title) and realize that Belle and Sebastian is very cute listening for those times when you're drifting in thought, sitting somewhere (in a moving car is always lovely). It's lovely, ponderous music. The lyrics aren't relatable unless you really try, so it won't remind you of your tiresome life. It's worth it. Sure, maybe you won't be hooked on the first listen. But trust me, Belle and Sebastian come in very handy for healing some inner wounds you didn't even know you had. They're peaceful without being boring and slow.

I have to admit, it's not my favorite Belle and Sebastian album; however, it carries that classic laidback-yet-not-boring, soft charm that is Belle and Sebastian. Favorites include: "Like Dylan in the Movies", "If You're Feeling Sinister", and "Judy and the Dream of Horses." I find the random content of their songs amusing, as well as, again, charming. I sort of get the feeling the lead singer (SORRY I don't remember these names, even if I positively adore the band and have spent weeks listening only to them - but don't underestimate my affection) doesn't open his mouth very much while he sings. He has kind of a mumbly singing thing. Charming. :)

8.01.2006

Rx Bandits- ...And the Battle Begun

Because of the complaints for the first uploaded advance copy of ...And the Battle Begun, I decided to RAR it again myself after I bought it. So here's an in order, maximum quality rip of this amazing record.